LOOKING TO THE FUTURE l STRATEGY & IDENTITY

9 September 2016

"You have to stick with something that you believe in and build the whole strategy around that" - Ken Choo

During the September international break, many of our U23/DVP and U18 players have been complementing age-level international experience with invaluable time spent training with the Cardiff City first-team squad.

It’s part of a re-focussed strategy to nurture our younger players through the Academy and into the first-team setup - whilst creating a Cardiff City identity.

Cardiff City’s Academy covers age groups from U9s to U18s, with the Bluebirds’ U23/DVP side – who have recorded four victories from their first four games of the season – acting as a crucial bridge to the first team.

Underpinning the Bluebirds Academy is a commitment to maintaining a unified strategy and style of football for the Club. This allows coaches and staff to prepare players on and off the pitch in similar ways, enabling them to better progress through the Academy age groups and in to first-team football.

FIRST TEAM TRAINING – 'A PATHWAY '

Cardiff City U18s and U23s are now regularly exposed to First Team training sessions as they learn from the Bluebirds’ senior players in a highly professional and tailored training environment.

The young Bluebirds are encouraged to study their experienced peers’ work ethic, intensity and conduct, along with their playing principles on the pitch so as to forge a common identity throughout the Club.

Paul TrollopeHead Coach,

“We’ve used this two week international break to integrate a lot of the U23s and U18s into the first-team setup and environment which is something I’m very keen to do, as is the Club as a whole,” says Bluebirds Head Coach, Paul Trollope.

“It’s about developing that pathway into the first team and providing that route of integration for the Academy and First Team.”

Academy Manager, James McCarthy

Academy Manager, James McCarthy, added: “The principles of playing in possession and out of it are very similar throughout the Academy teams, right up and in to the First Team.

“There is an intensity to get the ball back when we haven’t got it and a desire to play creative, attacking football when we have.”

Executive Director & CEO, Ken Choo

Executive Director & CEO Ken Choo stated: "You have to stick with something that you believe in and build the whole strategy around that.

“Paul [Trollope] knows he has to build something more fundamental for the football club as a whole and that’s what he’s doing.

“Our U23s have replicated the exact same system as our first-team and have won their last four matches playing that way.

"The U18s also play with the same tactics and they're doing well too. We're trying to implement that amongst our younger age groups as well. So, when future players from those sides make the grade into the senior team, they will be comfortable and familiar with the style adopted."

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